The Story Behind the Story

I posted this picture on Facebook about a week ago with a thanks to a good samaritan who stopped to help clean up Mason's puke. Well, here is the story behind the story.

We got up Saturday with no rush. Mom didn't have to be at the airport until 1 (flight was at 3) so we had plenty of time to get ready and hang out. I got in the shower when Mason went down for a nap and planned a nice lunch to Chick-fil-a. Well, it was almost noon and Mason had not gotten up from his nap. I rushed to finish getting ready and to get Mason, his diaper bag, and lunch together. We were about ready when I remembered to grab Mason's birth certificate so we could escort Mom to the gate. I had made a copy of it the last time we flew down and kept it in my purse. Well, I looked there and everywhere else and could not find it. I was devastated because I knew they would probably not let me through security with him not having any form of ID. So I left the house in a rush from taking the time to try and find something that wasn't there.

When we got to Chick-fil-a they were slammed. There was no way we could find a parking spot, eat, and drive to the airport in time. So I opted for the drive thru and an empty parking spot in the grocery store parking lot. All three of us plus luggage and a diaper bag were a tight squeeze in the back seat. Mason was not interested in eating much. I got him to eat almost a whole chicken nugget, a fee bites of a french fry, and a cup of pureed veggies.

Mom sat in the back with Mason as we headed towards the airport. They talked and played but then things changed quickly. I heard mom say, "Oh no... OH NO!" And I immediately knew what was happening. Just like the last time we fed Mason Chick-fil-a in the car on the way to get his xray, he was throwing up everywhere in my back seat. Luckily we were right next to a place I could pull over.

I barely got off the road, put the car in park, and yanked Mason out if the car seat. I stripped him down, wrapped him in a blanket, and had mom take him away from the road. I then got the car seat out of the car, moved the car farther off the road, and opened the doors to let it air out. At some point during all this I talked to Doug and told him what happened. He was on his way to work and immediately changed course to come help me. As I sat on the ground, wiping everything off, an older gentleman stopped to see if we needed help. He gave me rags, paper towels, water, Windex, and whatever else he had to help me. He stayed with us until Doug got there and was the last person to pull out.

Mason was fine after he got some fresh clothes on. Doug talked to his boss and got the ok to come in late so he could take Mason home and watch him while mom and I headed to the airport. The only good thing that came out of this was not having to worry about if I would get Mason through security. Mom and I had a nice, uneventful trip through the airport and to the gate. Yay!